After returning to Calgary from Montreal, Kue Varo formed The Only Hopes in 2022 by joining up with Matt Doherty, Easy H.D., and Bob Quaschnick quickly setting the stage for their debut release. They released several singles in 2022-23, culminating in the October 13, 2023 release of Cowboy Witchcraft—a full-length album produced by Juno Award winner Russell Broom.

Cowboy Witchcraft made waves on the charts, holding the #1 spot on CKUA for multiple weeks. The album garnered attention from Exclaim!, the Calgary Herald, and was fully previewed on X92.9’s Xposure. It also earned critical acclaim, landing at #40 on Range Magazine’s 50 Best Albums of 2023, CBC’s Key of A Top Picks, and the Calgary Herald’s Best Local Albums list. Their track “Gates of Hell” was named #52 on Strombo's 100 Best Songs of 2023.

2024 began strong after returning to #1 on CKUA and hitting #10 nationally on Earshot! radio. Their single “Furthest Place” achieved impressive chart success, securing five consecutive weeks in the Canadian Alternative Radio top 40 as the only unsigned group.

In September 2024, Cowboy Witchcraft won “Rock Recording of the Year” at the YYC Music Awards, capping off a remarkable campaign. Kue Varo & The Only Hopes are now
recording their next project “Honeymoon Lost” a 5 track EP—set to be released in 2025